Education

Education is the business of transfering knowledge from someone who knows to someone who doesnt. From the point of view of the person who knows, its called teaching. And from the other end, its called learning. For a long time now, we've been educating through schools where teachers are paid to um, teach and students pay money to learn. Seems to work well so far.

Except that teachers are not hired based on their ability to teach. They are hired based on their ability to learn, ie their qualifications.

Except students dont care about learning. Or rather, they care more about grades, exams, finding a job, pleasing their parents yadahyadahfrankenstein. Goals which, though admittedly lead to some learning, are not the same as learning.

Except students dont get to choose what they get taught. Even in university there exists only an illusion of choice. There is so much knowledge out there, why are we restricted to what schools decide to include in their cirriculum?

Except learning stops when school ends.


Is that the best we can do?

Taking Flight

Flying off in a few hours. Just finished stuffing the suitcase with 2x rackets, 1x lens, 1x bag pack and many x pieces of stuff-i-think-i-need-but-probably-dont. Feeling somewhat sentimental. I've been leaving home every year for the past 3.5 years but its different this time. For one, theres no one to pick me up at the damn airport @##$! And I'm going to be living in a hotel for the first couple of days cause I dont have an apartment. My clothes are in Michigan. Oh, and I've got no friends. Bummer.

Starting over can be such a pain in the ass.

On the other hand, I'm going to start my First Job! Excited to say the least. I think I'll be one of those idealistic-go-getting-irritant-noob for the first couple of months. After that, I'll morph into idealistic-go-getting-irritant. Yes. Sounds like a plan. Think I'll stick to it. Maybe I'll change something. Something important. I'll settle for The World.

I'm taking flight. Its time.

Texas Wisdom

"If all you ever do is all you've ever done, then all you'll ever get is all you ever got."

-- Some Texas saying according to Thomas Friedman

Essentially what I was trying to say in Resolutions, but in a sentence. With good rhythm.

Resolutions

If your goal is to get an A, why is your goal in your next lecture to not fall asleep?

If your goal is to get promoted, why is your goal in your next presentation to not screw up?

If your goal is to fall in love, why are you trying to not get hurt?

If your goal is to change your life, why are you doing the same thing tomorrow?

Inauguration

So I'm in a house in Laos watching TV with a bunch of Americans, Germans and English travellers. We're watching the inauguration on BBC. We've been watching since 8.30, and its 11.50 now. We all have stuff planned early tomorrow morning but somehow we felt obliged to watch the damn thing.

Anyhoo, after listening to the reporters for about 2 hours now, finally, Mr O appears.

And theres a blackout.

What the fuck???

Closure

Okay people, I'm ready to change the world. Whos with me?

Strange

I'm finally home again. I've been looking forward to this day since I left for the US in 2005. Been missing the food, my friends, my family and my love. But things are different now. I'm home but I miss my friends in the US. Even hokkien mee doesn't taste the same anymore without someone nagging me to not eat it. The streets we used to walk, the places we used to go. It all seems so strange now.


I miss home so much but I dont know where it is anymore. I need to find it again.